JODI ARIAS JURY HUNG IN PENALTY PHASE; A RETRIAL SET

Killer of boyfriend could still get death

PHOENIX 
Jurors who spent five months determining Jodi Arias’ fate couldn’t decide whether she should get life in prison or die for murdering her boyfriend, setting up a penalty-phase retrial that would rehash the shocking case of sex, lies and violence for another 12 people.

Judge Sherry Stephens gave a heavy sigh as she announced a mistrial in the penalty phase of the case Thursday and scheduled a July 18 retrial.

“This was not your typical trial,” she told jurors. “You were asked to perform some very difficult duties.”

As the panel filed out of the courtroom, one female juror looked at the victim’s family and mouthed, “Sorry.” She and two other women on the jury were crying.

None of the jurors commented as they left court.

A new jury will be seated to try again to reach a decision on Arias’ sentence — unless the prosecutor takes execution off the table and agrees to a life term.

Arias, who first said she wanted to die and later that she wanted to live, looked visibly upset about the mistrial and sobbed in the courtroom before it was announced.

Under Arizona law, a hung jury in a trial’s death penalty phase requires a new jury to be seated to decide the punishment.

If the second jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, the judge would then sentence Arias to spend her entire life in prison or be eligible for release after 25 years. The judge cannot sentence Arias to death.